2018 Annual Conference Highlights

Disrupting Silos, Connecting Conversations, Creating Impact

Representatives of funding organizations from Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States attended theAGAG 2018 Annual Conference in April. Discussions focused on approaches to leveraging philanthropy to benefit African communities and building closer ties between those working in philanthropy based inside and outside of Africa. Topics ranged from immigration policy to improving collaboration. Throughout, participants were encouraged to disrupt the silo approach and examine how their operations fit within a broader philanthropic context and funding landscape.

Impact of U.S. Immigration policy on African communities

Kassa described the diverse profile of the African immigrant community in the United States and broached common stereotypes. Of an estimated 2.1 million African immigrants, the majority come from sub-Saharan Africa and are concentrated in New York, Washington, DC, Houston and Chicago. While some have obtained legal status through the diversity visa lottery (about 40% of those admissions are from Africa) others have entered with visas or are asylum seekers such as women who are survivors of female genital mutilation.

Those with Deferred Enforced Departure and Temporary Protected Status are allowed to stay in the country and work, but they only have temporary status (they are not allowed a green card) and have no prospects of gaining permanent status. Current U.S. policies have burned pathways to legal immigration, including efforts to dismantle the diversity visa, which remains a key pathway for African immigrants.

As Kassa highlighted, although their legal status issues vary, economic marginalization is a common issue for nearly all African immigrants. Despite having higher levels of education in comparison to other immigrant groups, they reap lower economic returns from the degrees they hold. They tend to be the eldest of their siblings and hold a higher status in their home country. However, they also come with high expectations from their family for remittances and potential migration for other family members. When they can’t meet those expectations, it is hard for them to return home.

In response to the perception that African communities are unorganized, Kassa pointed to an impressive number of community members who mobilize and volunteer through their local mosques, churches, radio stations and mutual associations.

“The U.S. lumps us into one community where we share a certain fate across ethnicity,” said Kassa. “But in terms of our numbers and our power, it’s the women who braid hair, the cab drivers, and people who deliver your fast food who are the majority. We have common bonds in our experience and that is the basis for building community and building power.”

On the diminishing pathways to legal status, Kassa cited Trump’s pre-election singling out Somali refugees as a threat to safety prior to as a foreshadowing of the current landscape. The number of refugee resettlements has been cut from 100,000 to less than 10,000 and a mere quarter of those are for African refugees. Meanwhile, deportations have increased and the derogatory language used to describe African countries continues to flame a hostile and anti-immigrant environment.

Kassa cautioned against inaction in favor of waiting for the current administration’s term to end. For example, transforming World Refugee Day from a day of heart-warming stories into one of protest would demonstrate the power, presence and contribution of African immigrants, and reveal potential allies in the process.

International funders tend to relate to the African diaspora as a source of funds and technical assistance for the development of Africa. It should also be noted that building a better Africa includes empowering the African diaspora. “The cash cow (of the [African] diaspora) needs to be watered and fed, and not just milked,” noted Kassa. “We have to do more to enable African immigrants to vote and to empower the diaspora on Africa-oriented policy. And countries of origin need to think about the brain drain and how to incorporate the diaspora back into their development strategies.”

Bringing Value to Philanthropy to Africa

Why the Africa Grantmakers’ Affinity Group? We believe that a strong network of informed and connected funders is a necessary ingredient for robust, effective and responsive philanthropy to benefit African communities.